Chapter: 59

_______________

The café they ended up at was tucked away in a quiet corner of the city, the kind of place you’d only find if you were looking for it. Warm lighting bathed the small space, and the smell of fresh pastries lingered in the air. It was the perfect refuge from the chaos of the outside world.

Miyeon was ushered to a corner booth, where Seungkwan, Dokyeom, and Hoshi arranged themselves around her like a protective barrier. The quiet murmur of other patrons faded into the background as they focused entirely on her.

Seungkwan slid a cup of tea across the table to her, his expression soft but insistent. "Here, drink this. It’ll help."

Miyeon hesitated before wrapping her hands around the warm mug. The heat seeped into her fingers, thawing the chill that had settled there. She took a small sip, the earthy aroma of the tea grounding her, even if only a little.

Her tears had stopped a while ago, but the ache in her chest hadn’t faded. The weight of confusion and too many unanswered questions still bore down on her. She glanced at the three of them, their expressions a mix of patience and concern. They were waiting, but they didn’t push.

Dokyeom leaned forward, his voice gentle, "We don’t have to talk about it now if you’re not ready. But when you are, we’re here."

Hoshi chimed in, his usual bright energy tempered but still comforting. "Yeah, even if you just want us to sit here all day. We’ll do that. Whatever you need."

The kindness in their words chipped away at the fortress of pain she’d built around herself. She didn’t know how to thank them properly, so instead, she cleared her throat and deflected.

"Where were you all going before you found me?" she asked, her voice rough from crying.

"We were on our way to practice," Dokyeom said, sitting up a little straighter, "For the orientation day performance."

Orientation day.

Her brows furrowed as the realization hit her, her eyes widening, "Oh no. I completely forgot to come see your performance on the opening day. I’m so sorry. I meant to, but with everything..." Her words trailed off, guilt sinking in making her bury her head in her hands.

Hoshi chuckled softly and waved her off, "Don’t worry about it. We know you’ve had a lot going on."

"Seriously," Dokyeom added, slinging an arm over her shoulders and ruffling her hair affectionately, "But if you feel that bad about it, you can make it up to us by cheering for us the loudest at the orientation performance. The three of us are performing together this time."

Miyeon looked at them in surprise, "Really?"

"Yeah," Seungkwan said, grinning, "It’s our own music too. Woozi and Vernon are helping us with the tracks."

At the mention of Woozi, Miyeon blinked, a familiar name tugging at her memory. "Wait, Woozi?"

"You know him?", Seungkwan asked, his eyebrows lifting in surprise.

Miyeon nodded slowly, a hint of disbelief in her voice, "I think so... does he work at a convenience store?"

"Wow, small world," Hoshi said, laughing as Dokyeom nodded at her question.

The conversation drifted into a brief silence, broken only by the occasional clinking of cups and the hum of cars passing outside. Miyeon stared down at her hands, which were now clutching the ends of her sleeves. She knew they were giving her space, waiting for her to speak on her own terms.

But the weight of their unspoken questions hung in the air, pressing against her.

"You want to talk about it now?", Seungkwan asked gently, his tone careful, as if afraid of pushing too hard.

Miyeon’s shoulders sagged. Maybe she couldn’t escape it. And maybe she didn’t want to anymore. Maybe sharing the pain could make it better as Jeonghan had told her. She drew in a deep breath, the words weighing heavy on her chest.

"It’s better to just... get it out, isn’t it?" she murmured, half to herself.

Dokyeom nodded encouragingly, "Sometimes, yeah."

And so she began.

Her voice was quiet at first, hesitant, but once the words started flowing, she couldn’t stop. She told them everything—from her confrontation with Yejin, who had unknowingly struck a nerve, to overhearing Yewon and Wonwoo’s conversation. She recounted every word, every moment that had chipped away at her until she broke.

The words that left Yewon's lips and the silence of Wonwoo that had cut her deep.

The three of them listened intently, their expressions shifting with each detail she revealed. Dokyeom's hand rested lightly on her shoulder, his grip tightening slightly whenever her voice wavered. Seungkwan leaned closer, his brows furrowed in concentration. Even Hoshi, usually the one to break tension with a joke, remained silent, his gaze unwavering.

When she finished, there was a long pause. Miyeon stared down at the empty cup in her hands, her shoulders trembling slightly from the release of so much pent-up emotion.

"I just... I feel like I don’t belong anymore," she admitted, her voice cracking, "Everything’s changing, and I don’t know where I fit and the only person who I depended on so much feels too far apart."

Seungkwan was the first to break the silence, his voice firm but kind, "Miyeon, you always belong with us. Don’t ever doubt that."

"You’ve been through so much," Dokyeom added, "It’s okay to feel this way, but don’t think for a second that we don’t care about you."

Hoshi reached across the table, tapping her knuckles lightly. "You’re part of us. No matter what. Got it?"

Miyeon looked up at them, her vision blurry with unshed tears. Their words didn’t erase the pain, but they eased it just enough to make her feel like she could breathe again.

For the first time in what felt like days, she managed a small, shaky smile  "Thank you," she whispered.

And though her heart still felt heavy, the presence of the three of them reminded her that she wasn’t alone.

Seungkwan leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly as though he were studying her. "And Wonwoo? Did you wait to hear his side of things?"

Miyeon hesitated, her fingers curling tightly around the edge of her sleeve. Finally, she shook her head. "After Yewon said those things, he didn’t say anything. He just stood there. His face... his expression... it was like he agreed with her."

Seungkwan sighed and ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear in his tone. "Miyeon, you and Wonwoo share a bond that’s... different. Deeper than most people would understand, except maybe Nari. I get why Yewon’s words hurt you, but you know Wonwoo. You know he wouldn’t just..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "You have to give him the chance to explain."

Hoshi nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "He’s not the type to jump to conclusions, and neither are you. Don’t let someone else’s words ruin something so important. Not without hearing him out."

Miyeon sat in silence, their words settling heavily over her. They were right, and she knew it. Deep down, she’d already been thinking the same thing.

Wonwoo had always been there for her. After Daehan left, it was Wonwoo who stood by her through every stumble, every fall. People often misunderstood their relationship, assuming it was romantic, but Miyeon and Wonwoo knew better. What they had was deeper than labels—a connection forged through shared pain and unwavering trust.

She didn’t want this to be the end of that bond, but the thought of confronting him today, when her emotions were still too raw, felt impossible.

"Trust us," Dokyeom said softly, breaking the silence. "Words can destroy everything in the blink of an eye. We’ve been there. Don’t let this be the end of something that means so much to you. Talk to him—when you’re ready—but don’t leave it unresolved."

Miyeon looked up at them, her vision blurring slightly as a lone tear slipped down her cheek. Their words struck a chord, a mix of comfort and painful truth.

"Thank you," she said quietly, her voice shaky but sincere. She wiped the tear away and gave them a small smile. "I mean it. You three... you always seem to show up exactly when I need someone." She chuckled softly, and they joined her, their laughter light but genuine.

"That’s exclusive for you," Seungkwan said with a playful smirk, though his eyes softened as he looked at her.

After a brief pause, Miyeon hesitated before speaking again. Something Dokyeom had said earlier lingered in her mind, and she couldn’t shake the curiosity. "Can I ask you all something?"

The three of them exchanged glances before nodding simultaneously. "Go ahead," Hoshi said.

"You three... you don’t seem to get along with Jeonghan, Nari, and the others as much. It feels like there’s something deeper behind it. Something with history." She hesitated, her gaze darting between them. "If you’re comfortable sharing, I mean."

The atmosphere shifted instantly. The easy camaraderie of moments ago was replaced with tension. Seungkwan stiffened, his fingers tapping absently against the table, while Dokyeom avoided her gaze. Hoshi, usually the first to deflect with humor, let out a quiet sigh.

Miyeon immediately regretted asking. "I’m sorry," she said quickly. "I shouldn’t have—"

"No," Hoshi interrupted gently, his voice calm but strained. "It’s okay. It’s just... complicated."

He exchanged a look with Seungkwan and Dokyeom, as if silently asking for their permission. When they both nodded, Hoshi leaned forward, his expression uncharacteristically serious.

"It’s not that we don’t get along with Jeonghan or Nari," he began, choosing his words carefully. "It’s more that... we had a falling out. A long time ago. And even though we’ve moved past it on the surface, some things—some scars—never fully heal."

Miyeon tilted her head, her brows furrowing in concern, "A falling out? What happened?"

Hoshi glanced at Seungkwan, who let out a deep sigh, his fingers idly tracing patterns on the edge of his cup. Finally, he spoke, his voice carrying a weight that hadn’t been there before,

"We all used to be close, ever since our first year. Their group and us three—we were inseparable. Every lunch, every break, we were always together. But then..." He trailed off, his gaze drifting to the window as if the memory was too vivid to face head-on.

Seeing him struggle, Dokyeom stepped in, his voice quieter than usual, "One day... it all changed."

_________________

Merry Christmas to all of you ❤

Since it was getting too long, I had to cut it into two.

See you in next one.

Heartattack postponed to next chapter 🥂

Happy Reading!📚🤍